September 2020
Torah Reflections "Yom Kippur"
Torah Reflections “Yom Kippur”
Torah portions Leviticus 16 : 1- 34 and Numbers 29 : 7 - 11
Haftarah portion Isaiah 57 : 14 to 58 : 14
The Torah of YHWH given to Moses
Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 have the commandments about annual observances of the “mo’edim”. (The Hebrew word for “appointed times”, which in turn is usually translated into English as “feasts”). These are times when God specified He would meet with His chosen ones.
Today, they are most often referred to as “Jewish Feasts”. That correctly describes the fact that they are observances remembered by Jews. But it is an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures.
When God gave these instructions to Moses, He carefully worded these ‘appointed times’ (mo’edim) as MY ‘mo’edim’. They may be characterized as times when God says, in effect, “I will be there to meet with you on these specific occasions”. Those who choose not to attend miss an opportunity of blessing through meeting with Him at His invitation.
The 10 days between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur are referred to as “the days of awe”. In Judaism, they are days of intraflection and reconciliation … putting things right.. putting things right with God and putting things right with those we live with and associate with on a daily basis. In fact the Scriptures clearly tell us that we cannot be right with God, and be at odds with each other (Matthew 5 : 24).
Those who have visited Israel at this time of year will know that everything stops on Yom Kippur. It is a day of fasting and reflection.( It is the reason why, in 1973, the Arab nations around Israel attacked them on that specific day. There is No Radio, No Television, No answering phones.. NOTHING goes on). The Scriptures declared that all the people have a day of solemn rest and strict Sabbath keeping. A day to “afflict your souls”.
It was the one day in every year, appointed by God, for the Chief Priest to enter the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and the Temple when they were functioning. The whole purpose of that visit by the Chief Priest was to ensure that he himself, and the Nation of people he represented, were made right with God in preparation for the year that lay ahead.
The awesome significance of this very special day is, regrettably, totally lost to the church. In addition to its special anointing by God, being set apart from all other days as it is, there is a unique event recorded in Revelation which we should all be acutely aware of. It is the day of the WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT. It is represented for us today by the day of Atonement. It is a special day ‘to put things right’.
Revelation 20 : 11 – 15 describes that day of Judgment. It needs no comment from me. The judgement is to determine who is right with God, and who is not. It is there for everyone to read, but before you read it I caution you to read Revelation 22 : 18,19 first. Many ‘Christians’ today have never taken time to even read Revelation, let alone try to understand its message. It is a letter written by Yeshua Himself, or at least dictated by Him to John.
The climax of the whole letter, in fact the climax of the whole message of the Scriptures comes in the next festival of the Lord, the Feast of Tabernacles, which is why these “mo’edim” of the Lord are so important to celebrate, be part of, and to remember.
I am saddened that the modern Christian church, which is largely ignorant of the “mo’edim” of the Lord, has missed a blessing which God intended us to enjoy.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections “Yom Teruah”
Torah Reflections “Yom Teruah”
Torah portions Genesis 21:1-34 Numbers 29:1-6
Haftarah portion 1 Samuel 1:1 to 2:10
The Torah of YHWH given to Moses
Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 have the commandments about annual observances of the “mo’edim”. (The Hebrew word for “appointed times”, which in turn is usually translated into English as “feasts”). These are times when God specified He would meet with His chosen ones.
Today, they are most often referred to as “Jewish Feasts”. That correctly describes the fact that they are observances remembered by Jews. But it is an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures.
When God gave these instructions to Moses, He carefully worded these ‘appointed times’ (mo’edim) as MY ‘mo’edim’. They may be characterized as times when God says, in effect, “I will be there to meet with you on these specific occasions”. Those who choose not to attend miss an opportunity of blessing through meeting with Him at His invitation.
This festival is known as “The Feast of Trumpets”, because God ordained that it was to be heralded by the blowing of trumpets, it is known as “Rosh Hashanah” because it brings in the civic New Year in the Hebrew calendar. It is a Sabbath, a Holy convocation, a day of rest. It is the first of a series of THREE festivals which closely follow each other at this season of the year.
Many, like me, believe that it is prophetic of the time of the Lord’s return, and there are good Biblical reasons for this. Others will say ‘no man knows the day nor the hour”, but an elementary knowledge of Judaic biblical history easily explains this. In Israel, even today, the beginning and end of festivals (Numbers 10:10) relies on the observance of TWO stars in the sky by TWO witnesses (and that is normally announced by the blowing of shofars). The appearance of the New Moon heralds the beginning of a new month, again reliant on TWO witnesses. There are a number of good reasons why these observances could be one day or the next. “No man knows the day”. The presence of cloud will affect the precise timing of the first appearance of stars, “no man knows the hour”.
The most compelling reason is however because it is consistent with the evidential significance of the first FOUR ‘mo’edim’. Pesach, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits are perfectly fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. Shavu’ot, the traditional time of the giving of Torah to Moses on the mountain, is also the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem a mere 10 days after the ascension of Yeshua into Glory.
The Scriptures reveal that Yeshua will return with the sound of trumpets. (Matthew 24:30,31 1Corinthians 15:52 1Thessalonians 4:16)
It is certainly a time to watch and pray isn’t it?
The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of a period of 10 days of preparation for the next solemn appointed time, the Day of Atonement. It is enlightening to read Revelation 18, 19 and 20 in conjunction with the reflection on these last three festivals. That passage of Scripture appears to fill in some detail of things to take place upon the return of Yeshua when He comes, not as the Lamb to be slain, but as King of kings and Lord of Lords in order to put into place the millennial Kingdom of God.
In concluding this reflection, please consider this thought. When God instituted the ‘mo’ed’ of the Feast of Trumpets, He could have had in mind not only the annual introduction of a New Year in the Hebrew calendar, but also the New Year which marks the commencement of Yeshua’s everlasting Kingdom.
I am saddened that the modern Christian church, which is largely ignorant of the “mo’edim” of the Lord, has missed a blessing which God intended us to enjoy.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 47
Hebraic understanding Hebrews and Revelation
This is a part of Scripture which is avoided by many people because of its seeming complexity. It is the only book in our Bible attributed to Yeshua Ha’mashiach Himself. Written by the Apostle John late in his life during a visionary encounter with the Holy Spirit of God. At times John is prompted, even directed, by the Lord to write what he is witnessing. One can only guess at the amazing spectacle of being so directed. What he describes is sometimes very difficult to imagine. There are quite unusual events and situations, such as have never before been encountered by mankind, to be considered, evaluated, and reckoned with. But it all comes with a promise!
The final part of the vision John was shown relates solely to the New Jerusalem. The place of eternal abode of the faithful. That city is complete in its structure and sustainability, but it does not have a comparator in our present world.
“The pure water of life, clear as crystal, which proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb” is reminiscent of the river (Genesis 2:10) which watered the Garden of Eden when God first created the world. It is as though ‘right order’ will be restored, as God determined things should be, when He created this universe with the ‘breath of His mouth’. The tree of life is there, perpetually bearing fruit month after month. Paradise. “There shall be no more ‘curse’ there” (that word means ‘imprecation’, spoken curse, as in no more conflict) “but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.” Who would dare to speak any abomination in their presence?
Those who inhabit the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ, “shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.” It is interesting to recall the encounter Moses had (Exodus 33) when he asked God “Please, show me Your glory.” God responded with the statement “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” That was then. In the future New Jerusalem, all will see Him, and live for eternity in His presence. “And they shall reign forever and ever.”
And that, it seems is the end of John’s vision. It started with that visit into the throne room of heaven, and the sealed scroll. There was no-one in heaven or on earth found worthy to open the scroll then. And it has ended with the establishment of the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ, which will live for eternity. Then the voice again “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Repeating the promise found right at the beginning. “Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Must be important eh! And suddenly the angel who had been escorting John at this late stage of the vision found John on his knees worshipping him. The angel scolded John, “See that you don’t do that.” He said, “for I am a fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”(he might have added, “and Him alone”). I find these words quite challenging. Think about the way so many of us don’t think like that. Think about the veneration and honour given today to some of the gifted teachers of the gospel. Think about the way in which the gospel writers, Paul (a veritable giant of the faith) in particular, are viewed. Some even perceive Paul’s words superior to the very words of Yeshua! Listen again to the words of this angel “See that you don’t do that, Worship God.”
But there is still a little more for us to learn here. The voice sounded again “And behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” Which city? The New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ. “I, Yeshua, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the “ekklesia”, I am the Root, and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning star.”
We have already quoted the promise of blessing to those who read, who hear, and who DO, what is written in this prophecy. And the book ends with another equally faithful promise.
“And if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of this book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
No other part of the whole of Scripture has such a codicil attached to it! So we may well ask ourselves. How important does God view this book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John?
I pray you will receive the blessing of YHWH Elohim, as you read, or hear read, and do, the things which are written in this book, to the glory of God and for your own salvation blessing.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 46
Hebraic understanding Hebrews and Revelation
This is a part of Scripture which is avoided by many people because of its seeming complexity. It is the only book in our Bible attributed to Yeshua Ha’mashiach Himself. Written by the Apostle John late in his life during a visionary encounter with the Holy Spirit of God. At times John is prompted, even directed, by the Lord to write what he is witnessing. One can only guess at the amazing spectacle of being so directed. What he describes is sometimes very difficult to imagine. There are quite unusual events and situations, such as have never before been encountered by mankind, to be considered, evaluated, and reckoned with. But it all comes with a promise!
The Great White Throne judgement is completed. The lake of fire now contains the devil and his cohorts. Death and Hades are consigned to that lake too. Furthermore, anyone who does not have their name written in that Book of Life, has also joined Satan in that lake as well. The thousand year reign of Messiah Yeshua has passed. Satan’s deception is finished. In another place, the eternal home of the faithful is ready for occupation. What a picture!
John seems awestruck, not for the first time either. He who sat on the throne said “Behold I make all things new.” And followed that up with the urgent instruction to John. “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” It seems that John was so absorbed in what he was being shown, that he stopped writing, just staring in wonder at what was before him. “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Then, as an aside, in a kind of message for the day, as up to date as it can be, even today) I will give of the water of the fountain of life freely to him who thirsts.” That water of the fountain of life is freely available TODAY, now, as you read this ‘reflection’. But it was no longer available to those who had already been consigned to the lake of fire was it?
John was shown “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth has passed away.” And there was NO MORE SEA. The earth on which we now live is over 70% covered by the seas!! There is almost too much detail here to grasp on first reading. Some of it is in a kind of reflective recall of events which will have already passed, and some, so enlightening that one wonders how we could have got it so wrong! Ask the question of any of your Christian friends “Who is the ‘bride’ of Christ’?” A huge majority will quickly respond that ‘the church’ is the bride of Christ. Well, surprise, surprise! That is not what John saw in his vision. “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” And as this spectacle unfolds, one of the angels who had previously carried one of the seven ‘bowls of God’s wrath’ and poured it out on the earth, came and talked to John. “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife” he said. At that point, John was carried away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. A place where he could clearly see. And what did he see? “The great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.” That city is described in some detail.
It had an appearance of a very special and costly precious stone, but clear as crystal. It had high gates, twelve of them, each being named after one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was obviously square in dimension, and each side had three gates. Then we are told that the walls had twelve foundations! Each of which was named after one of the twelve ‘apostles of the Lamb’. It seems to be a remembrance of the work of the Apostles, all of whom were eventually martyred for their faith. A permanent, eternal, tribute to their faith.
Are you ready for a shock? How BIG is this New Jerusalem? The Bride of the Lamb. Well today, a “furlong”, the length of which was standardised in England about 700 years ago, is 660 feet, about 200 meters. The angel who spoke to John had a measuring line to accurately define the city size. IF that measure were the same then as it is today, the New Jerusalem would be 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high. Imagine a city extending from Adelaide to Perth, Perth to Broome, Broome to Alice Springs, and Alice Springs to Adelaide. And 1,500 miles high. Well, of course, for us it is unimaginable isn’t it? But it is BIG. And the walls! Well they are to be about 65 meters thick! Made out of gold and precious stones. Spectacular. Glorious. Unique.
But, considering the fact that the whole of the Scriptures are centred upon Jewish people, Jewish customs, Jewish heritage, Jewish future, Jewish everything! There is NO temple in the New Jerusalem. It is very important for us to distinguish the differences between the millennial kingdom of God, when Yeshua reigns on this earth, where there WILL be a temple. (The temple described in Ezekiel 40 to 48). And the New Jerusalem, where a temple is not required.. Why? “The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Worship, praise and honour will be theirs alone.
The sun and the moon will NOT be required either. Why? “For the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” There will be NO night. No darkness. So completely different to the functioning of the world we live in isn’t it? “The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth (that is, the ones who will be in that New Jerusalem) bring their glory and honour into it.” All glory will be to God and the Lamb.
Finally, the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem. It is a BIG city, lots of room, but who will its inhabitants be? We learned earlier that “The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which IS the second death.” They are gone. Nowhere to be found anymore.
“But there shall by no means enter it (the New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Friends, the Scripture could not possibly be any clearer. The ONLY qualification for having ‘eternal life’ in the New Jerusalem, is having your name written in THAT Book. NOTHING else suffices. Make all the logical exceptions that come to your mind. Not one of them will “cut the mustard”! This is why this Book of the Revelation of Yeshua, given to John is such a blessing. It spells out unequivocally, so no doubt can remain, how each of us can become inheritors of the eternal life which is offered by the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Master and Saviour, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.
Shabbat Shalom
RS